Transition Benefits: "Shipmates to Workmates" Transitions Talent

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Now that the Navy has begun notifying the more than 3,000 Sailors impacted by Enlisted Retention Boards, six major Navy commands have started a program to aid transitioning Sailors compete for job opportunities as federal civilians.

The Shipmates to Workmates program - managed jointly by the Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Facilities Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Commander, Naval Installations, Space and Naval Warfare Command, and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations - will provide information about career opportunities available at partnering commands and actively assist sailors prepare job applications and resumes.

The participating commands will steer separating sailors, command career counselors and transition assistance coordinators to a dedicated Shipmates to Workmates website to facilitate participation. This website will serve as a "one-stop shop" for sailors seeking to Navy-related employment.

"Finding out that you are being separated from the Navy, will be a significant blow," said Rear Adm. Clarke Orzalli, vice commander NAVSEA. "The Shipmates to Workmates program is an opportunity to do what we can to soften the blow, as well as continue to utilize their significant skills for the benefit of the Navy."

Through the website and other outreach programs, the effort will attempt to demystify the government service hiring process, match job supply to demand, link existing Navy and Defense Department transition support, and assist qualified sailors with local hiring processes.

"The Shipmates to Workmates program is simply good leadership - this program demonstrates our commitment, as leaders, to our sailors by assisting those being involuntarily separated," said Cmdr. Pat Sanders, NAVSEA's lead for the program.

Each of the participating commands will participate in job fairs and other hiring events for transitioning sailors. The first event is a career forum that will be held Dec. 3 from 1100 to 1400 at NSA Bethesda in the Fleet and Family Support Center, Bldg. 11, room 109. Future forums are scheduled at fleet concentration areas throughout the country, including a Dec. 6 forum in Norfolk.

For more information on the "Shipmates to Workmates" program as well as a full schedule of upcoming career forums, please visit the Shipmates to Workmates website at http://jobs.navair.navy.mil/sm2wm/.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.